In an election, political parties like to throw out a lot of numbers in a bid to convince voters that their platforms (unlike those of the competition) are costed, practical and sound.

There’s a risk in playing the numbers game, though: You’re inviting people to check your math. In Ontario’s election campaign, four numbers put forth by Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservative party have attracted a lot of media attention: one million; 100,000; three; and $7.4 billion.